Southsea Fest doubles in size for 10th anniversary – see the full timetable here

Chris Broom

WITH more than 180 acts performing across 21 stages in a single day, final preparations are taking place for the return of Southsea Fest after it took a break last year.

The schedule for the one-day music festival, which takes in The Pyramids for the first time, is released today.

Drift Bar in Marmion Road and The Coastguard Studio in Clarendon Road are also among places making their debut as venues for the festival, which is stretching beyond the Albert Road/Elm Grove area. Headliners include Mystery Jets and British Sea Power, as well as acts like Eagulls and Lucy Rose.

Co-organiser and founder Josie Curtis said: ‘We took a year off to reassess things and look at how to sustain the festival.

‘We were always quite limited by the venues and their capacity. In order to increase the level of the artists we were working with, we needed to increase the number of venues.’

The festival, which is marking its 10th anniversary this year, has always been a big supporter of grassroots music, for local and new touring acts – George Ezra and Bastille made early appearances here.

Is Bliss

Stages are run by local labels, promoters and businesses, including Strong Island, Icebreaker, Quay West and Pie & Vinyl.

‘It’s very much a festival built on team spirit,’ added Josie. ‘But on the day it is a series of gigs, and we want to make sure each venue is capable of sustaining an audience’

However, plans to include shuttlebuses between Albert Road and the Pyramids are on the rocks.

‘It hasn’t proved possible within the budget, unfortunately,’ added Josie, ‘but we are looking at options to see if we can arrange something.’